We Tried the Trendiest Home Organization Method and Here’s What Happened

For many of us, 2017 was a doozy, but we here at Brit + Co are ready to hit refresh in 2018! Follow our Hit Refresh series through January for new ideas, hacks, and skills that will help you achieve (and maintain!) those New Year’s resolutions.

It’s a new year, which means new you, new home, new everything. Well, that’s the idea at least. We’re embracing that philosophy this January by trying out the trendiest organization technique on the block: the KonMari Method. Developed by Marie Kondo in Japan, the KonMari Method is a decluttering practice based on a simple principle: Surround yourself with items that “spark joy.” This means be thoughtful about what items you hold onto (like your favorite lounge-around-the-house sweater), and be swift and practical about what you purge (like that OTT cocktail dress you still feel guilty about never wearing). Our uber talented Production Assistant, Cassidy Miller, was happy to take on the challenge in her adorable (and tiny) San Francisco cottage.

Besides being a badass stylist, DIYer, and Jill of All Trades, this girl is known for her fashionable threads. And you know what that means? A closet chock-full of goodies. Sharing said closet with her BF Ryan has only made things trickier. Needless to say, their little closet was ready for some reorganization and purging. Follow along for her transformation!

Brit + Co: What was the biggest problem area for you? Why?

Cassidy Miller: Definitely our closet. My partner moved into my studio apartment five years ago and we still struggle with finding a balance in the small space. I’ve been slowly and begrudgingly giving him more closet space, but that means I need to be smarter (and more creative) with my own clothes.

B+C: Have you tried to organize this area in the past? How did that go?

CM: Yes; I’m super organized and he’s not. So it’s been a labor of love on my part to try and make the space work. We’ve made strides in the past but haven’t got to an optimal place yet.

B+C: Was the KonMari Method helpful? Was it difficult at first?

CM: I LOVE the KonMari Method. I consider myself a tidy person already, so I was implementing a lot of her practices without even knowing. I think it’s a great starting place for people who need a heavier hand in getting a jumpstart on being organized. Her techniques on folding really helped me put the finishing touch on our closet reorganization.

B+C: What were some pros and cons for this method as it applied to your organization needs?

CM:

Pros

– Living in a super small space, the idea that you need to absolutely love everything you own is really powerful to me.

– It’s a sustainable method with a focus on a lifestyle change, not just a flashy product that promises to fix your problems for you.

Cons

– If you don’t have a lot of storage space, folding everything you own isn’t really that practical.

B+C: What, if any, products did you buy to help organize the space?

CM: To help organize all our newly folded, Marie Kondo-approved clothes, I bought more three-cube shelves from Target to put on the floor of the closet and up top.